Originally posted on Blogcritics.Org 08/05/2008

After four long years the innovative rock act Radiohead decided to make a stop at Blossom Music Center before their adoring Ohio fans.  It was no surprise that the show was sold out, as many in Ohio and the surrounding states planned this special day months in advance knowing that the band rarely tours. Rumors of Radiohead touring were finally laid to rest at the end of February, when the band announded their second leg of the North American tour.

Sold out crowds mean traffic jams, and I am pleased to say that with the help of Google Maps I avoided the mile-plus long backup that filled up Route 8.  Parking the car and walking almost a mile to the coveted amphitheater did not get my spirits down as I was excited to be seeing Radiohead for the fourth time in my life. This was their third time returning to Blossom Music Center in the last seven years.

One thing I admired about the show is that it was “green.”  The beers were served in biodegradable cups made form corn, and the merch was made from recycled materials.  I opted out from dropping $40 on a T-shirt formed from plastic bottles, but did spend some money on a container made from recycled aluminum material.  The container stated “Radiohead Tour 2008 H2O” and posted the amount of water bottles that are sold every year (18 million).  I thought it was a good keepsake, and at the same time my personal small way to help the envoirnment.

I barely obtained a ticket this year (and yet again it was a lawn seat), but I was OK with that and so were the rest of the people around me.  Opening act Grizzly Bear tried to entertain the crowd, but their music just was not providing the energy to everyone.  Some fans sang along to the indie sounding band from Brooklyn, NY, while others mocked them.  Still, they seemed honored to be touring with such an influential band.

The sun set showcasing a beautiful partly cloudy sky when Radiohead took the stage.  The band opened with “15 Step” from their latest, pay-what-you-feel-like album In Rainbows.  The light show behind the band was their best yet in my opinion, with what looked like reflective bars with a media screen behind them.

It was not until the band started playing “Pyramid Song” that I realized how lucky I was to be stuck in this crowd of people.  Looking around I saw hippies, punk rockers, families, and the occasional scenester all collected on a hilly lawn on a warmer than normal summer evening.  I smiled because I knew that even though it was my fourth time getting to see them live, they still enthralled me.  I also admired the looks on the faces of the fans that clearly were attending their first Radiohead experience.

Some songs sounded a little more natural with acoustics, while others were overly processed with sweet samples and electronic beats. Regardless of how they tweaked their material it was a real treat to listen to them.  The crowd was also entertaining to watch especially when someone took it upon themselves to throw about 200 light sticks in the air, only to have the crowd continually throw them towards the stage.

Focusing on newer material, I sometimes found myself not as entertained, but soon the light show helped redirect my attention as did hearing some older material like “The National Anthem” and “Climbing Up The Walls.”  One thing that was irritating was that where I was standing I could barely see the band and had no idea when they left the stage, only to return to for an encore.

One of the highlights of the evening for me was hearing “Paranoid Android” live.  I have and will always love that song.  On top of that, there was the always amazing guitar solo in the middle of it which in turn had the entire crowd cheering at the top of their lungs.  After “Street Spirit,” the band left the stage and came out once again for a second encore.

Thom Yorke took a minute to state “this is most definitely a love song” before the act started playing “House Of Cards.”  Ending the show was Kid A’s “Everything In Its Right Place,” a another song I was hoping to hear.  It was a nice ending to an amazing performance.

The show seemed to blow past much faster than previous performances, yet they were onstage for over 2 hours.  Before I knew it I was in what my friend called the “ET shuffle” as closely grouped fans slowly made way back to their vehicles.  During the long walk, we spoke about how awesome it was to see them live once again and how breathtaking they are.  It was truly a special evening, thanks to one of the most important bands out there on the rock scene.

Set List:

Set list:
15 Step
There There
Morning Bell
All I Need
Pyramid Song
Nude
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
The Gloaming
The National Anthem
A Wolf At The Door
Faust Arp
Exit Music (For A Film)
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Idioteque
Climbing Up The Walls
Bodysnatchers
How to Disappear Completely

Encore 1:
Videotape
Paranoid Android
Dollars and Cents
Reckoner
Street Spirit

Encore 2:
House of Cards
Lucky
Everything In Its Right Place

Additional Comments:

Thanks to the wonderful invention of YouTube I was able to get a better look at what was going on at the show that amazing evening.  Each member of that bad has their own special talent/ability that when combined create the mezmurizing music that is Radiohead.

If you need proof check this out:

Notice Jonny Greenwood replicating the Jimmy Page like guitar playing with a bow.  Amazing.